Lubricating device.



PATBNTBD FEB. 2l, 1905.

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L. s` CLARKE. LUBRIGATING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 28, 194.

.Imiv Mx IHHL im@ g N PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

L. S. CLARKE. LUBRICATING DEVICE. AlPLIoATIoN FILED JAN. ze, 1904.

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lTNEssEsmuy UNITED ISTATES Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LUBRICATING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,020, dated February 21, 1905.

Application iiled January 28, 1904. Serial No. 190,989.

"o (LM 1.0710112, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS S. CLARKE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Haverford, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricating Devices, of which the following` is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for lubricating the bearings and piston cylinders of engines and motors.

The invention consists of a lubricating device, the lubricating action of which is-controlled by the operation of its associated engine or motor, and the construction and arrangement are such that when the engine or motor is quiescent, no lubricating action of the device is taking place.

In the construction shown, my device is employed in connection with a double-cylinder four cycle explosive engine or motor, the motor cylinders being arranged upon opposite sides of a crank case, the interior of which is in communication with the interiors of the said cylinders.

The invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described in detail, set forth specifically in the claims, and as illustrated in the drawing.

In the drawings,

Figure I is a View showing an engine in side elevation, and also showing a lubricating device in vertical section secured to the said engine; and

Figure II is an enlarged view showing' the lubricating device in vertical section.

Referring to the drawings,

1 designates the oppositely arranged cylinders, and 2 designates the pistons operating in the said cylinders. 3 designates a crank case in which is. journaled a crank shaft 4L having crank arms 5 which are separated from each other a distance of 1800. The end of each crank arm 5 is connected to one of the pistons 2 by a connecting rod 6 in the usual manner.

The receptacle for the lubricating material consists of a base which constitutes a cover for the crank case 3. The side walls l2 of the lubricating receptacle are cast integral with the base IO. It is understood, however, that if desired the said side walls l2 may be secured to the base IO in any other suitable manner.

In order to render the interior of the lubricating receptacle visible for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of lubricating material which may be contained therein, one end of the said receptacle is closed by means of a glass plate 18, the inner peripheral edge portion of which rests against the liange 15, the said plate being held in that position by means a screw-threaded ring 16 having screw-threaded engagement with one end of the lubricating receptacle', as is clearly illustrated.

18 designates a boss or projection upon the top of the lubricating receptacle, the said boss being provided with a passageway 19 intermediate its ends. At one end the said passageway 19 communicates with an enlarged opening 20, which is adapted to be closed by means of a screw-threaded plug 21.

Leading from the said enlarged opening 20 to the interiorof the lubricating receptacle is an opening 23 into which the upper end portion of an open-ended tube 25 projects, the said tube being tightly secured in any suitable manner in the said opening'.

The lower end of the said tube 25 terminates a short distance above the base 10 of the lubricating receptacle. The upper end of the said tube is closed normally by means of a valve 26. rIhe opposite end of the passageway lil/communicates with an enlarged opening 28 in the said boss or projection 18, the said opening 28 being closed by a screwthreaded plug 30. The lower endportion 31 of the screw-threaded plug 8() is somewhat reduced and extends beyond the end of the passageway 19. By reducing the said lower end portion of thel plug 30, as indicated, an annular space is secured between `the said lower end portion and the vinner wall of the opening 28.

33 designates an enlarged opening arranged below the lower end of the opening 28 and at right angles to the passageway '19.

The said closed air tight by means of glass plates 35, x

one only of which is shown in the drawing.

The opening' 33 is in communication with the opening- 28 by means of a small conical opening or passageway 36, which is closed by the lower end of the plug 30. The plug 30 is provided with a screw-threaded perforation 37, which is adapted to receive and to be closed by the screw-threaded needle valve 38; the lower end 39 of which is conical and is adapted to project beyond the lower end of the said plug 30 into the opening The perforation 37 is in communication with the annular space surrounding the lower portion of the plug 30 through a perforation extending through the lower end of the said plug.

By adjustment of the needle valve, the lower end of the opening' 37 may be more or less nearly closed so as to permit the passage of a greater or less quantity of lubricating material.

A lock nut 40 is provided for retaining' the member 33 in any desired adjusted position. A perforation 42 is 'formed through the top of the lubricating' receptacle Afrom the opening 35 into the interior of the lubricating receptacle.

43 designates a tube, the upper end of which is iitted tightly into the perforation 42, and the lower end of which projects through and is fitted tightly in an opening 44 in the base 10 of the receptacle. The lower end of the said tube 43 is flush with the lower surface of the said base 10, and is closed by means of a flexible valve 45 secured in any suitable manner, as by means of a screw 46, to the said base 10.

The lubricating material is' poured into the lubricating receptacle through an opening' 47, which may be closed by means of a screwthreaded cap 48. 1n order to permit access of air to the lubricating receptacle, a pin hole, 49, is provided through the cap 48.

It may be found desirable to supply the lubricating' material to the crank case more rapidly and in greater quantity than is possible through the tube 25, passageway 19, and tube 43. 1 have, therefore, provided a supplemental means for permitting' the escape of the.

lubricating material from its receptacle into the crank case. The said supplemental means comprises a screw-threzuled plug' 50 in engagement with an opening 51 in the base 10 of the said receptacle. The upper end of the said plug projects above the upper surface of the base 10 and is provided with a screw-threaded opening 52 for the reception of the screwthreaded lower end of the rod 53.

Extending transversely through the plug 50, and at right angles tothe perforation 52,

is a perforation 54, which is in communication with thc interior of the crank case 3 by means of a small passageway The said passageway 55 is adapted to be opened and closed by means of the reduced conical end portion 56 of the' rod 53. It will thus be seen that, if desired, the passageway 55 may be kept closed, and that, therefore, only what may be termed the main lubricating' mechanism may usually be employed.

In order to permit egress of air or gases of different description from the crank case, I'

have provided the passageway 60 which is normally closed by means of a spring pressed check valve 61. One end of the spring by which the valve is held normally closed bears against the said valve, while the other end bears against a cap 62, which closes one end of the passageway 60.

It will be understood that the check valve 61 readily opens to permit the escape of air or gas from the crank case, and that after the escape of such gases, the said valve closes and prevents the return of any air or gas to the said crank case.

An opening 63 is provided through one side of the said passageway 60 at a point adjacent to the cap 62.

64 designates a tube, the upper end of which is litted tightly in the opening' 63, and the lower open end of which is located immediately above the upper open end of a funnel 65, the lower end of which projects into the crank case.

'1n the operation of the motor illustrated, it will be understood that the pistons 2 reciprocate in the cylinders 1. As these pistons move outwardly in their cylinders, it will be understood that a vacuum more or less complete is created in the crank case, and that simultaneously a small quantity of gases pass around the pistons into the inner portions of the cylinders and into the crank case. As the pistons return, these gases are compressed and are expelled from the crank case through the passageway 60. opening the check valve for that purpose. The rotation of the crank arms occasions a splashing and violent agitation of whatever oil may be contained in the crank case so that a portion of it comes into contact with the crank shaft bearings, the pivotal connection between the connecting rod's 6 and the crank arms, and also aportion of the said oils are thrown or splashed into the piston cylinders.

It will be found also that a considerable portion of the oil is splashed or thrown through the passageway 60, and it is for the purpose of returning this lubricating material to the crank case that the tube 64 and funnel 65 are provided.

As the pistons move outwardly toward the IOO IIO

IIS

respective outer ends of the cylinders 1 to create a vacuum in the crank case, as heretofore stated, the valves 45 and 26 are opened as a result of the pressure of the air upon the upper surface of the lubricating fluid contained in the lubricating receptacle, which pressure forces the lubricantthrough the tube 25, passageway 19 and tube 43, moving the valves 26 and 4:5 from their respective seats.

It is apparent, therefore, that at each movement of the pistons 2 toward the outer ends of the cylinders l, a small quantity of oil is permitted to pass from the lubricating device into the crank case.

One advantage resulting from my invention, not heretofore pointed out, is that in addition to performing the function of a lubricating device, it also serves as a cover for the crank case.

The location of the lubricating device in Contact with the engine or motor is of very great advantage forthe reason that a greater or less amount of heat is communicated from the said engine or motor to the said lubricating device, so that thelubricating material contained therein is kept in a fluid state and may readily pass through the passageway provided into the crank shaft case. y

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A lubricating device comprising a receptacle secured to the crank case of a motor, a tube, the lower end of which terminates at a point above the bottom of the said receptacle, and the other end of which projects upwardly through the top of the said receptacle and is normally closed, a tube passing through the said receptacle, the opposite ends of which are secured respectively in openings provided in the top and bottom of the said receptacle, the lower end of the said last mentioned tube being in communication with the said crank case, and means for closing the said lower end, the upper ends of the said tubes being in cornmunication with each other, and the said closing means being adapted to be Aopened by the creation of a vacuum in said crank case.

2. A lubricating device for motors, comprising a receptacle, an open-ended tube extending into the interior of the receptacle, the upper end of which is normally closed, atube extending through the said receptacle, the opposite ends of which are secured respectively in perfor-ations extending through the top and bottom of the said receptacle, the lower end of which is normally closed and the upper end of which is normally open, and means for occasioning the opening and closing the said tubes. l

3. A lubricating device for motors comprising a receptacle for containing lubricating material, the said receptacle being provided with a passageway communicating with the interior of the crank case of the motor, movable means for closing and opening the said passageway, the said movable means being moved to open the said passageway by the creation of a vacuum in the said crank case.

4. In a lubricating device for motors, in combination, acrank case, a receptacle for containing a lubricating material, the said receptacle being provided with a passageway communicating with the interior of said crank case, movable means for normally closing the said passageway, piston cylinders located upon opposite sides of said crank case and beingin open communication therewith, pistons operating in the said cylinders, the said pistons simultaneously moving inwardly and simultaneously moving outwardly, the latter movement creating a vacuum in the said crank case whereby movement of the said means to open the said passageway is occasioned.

-5. In a lubricating device for motors, in combination, a crank case, a receptacle for containing the lubricating material, the said receptacle being provided with a passageway communicating with the interior of said crank case, movable means for normally closingthe said passageway, a piston. cylinder which is in communication with the said crank case, a piston operating in the said cylinder, the outward movement of the said piston in the said cylinder creating a vacuum in the crank case whereby movement of the said means to open the said passageway is occasioned.

6. The combination with the crank ease of a motor, of a lubricating device comprisinga receptacle, the said receptacle being provided with a passageway leading therefrom into the said crank case, movable means by which the said passageway is normally closed, and which means is adapted to be opened by the creation of a vacuum in said crank case, and the said receptacle being provided with a supplemental passageway communicating with the said4 crank case, and means for opening and closing the said supplemental passageway, as desired.

7. The combination with the crank case of a motor, of a lubricating device comprising a receptacle, the said receptacle being provided with a passageway leadingtherefrom, into the said crank case, and an adjustable valve for regulating the flow ofthe lubricating material through the said passageway, and means for occasioning the automatic opening and closing of said passageway.

8. Accrank case provided with means for permitting the escape of lubricating material therefrom and to return it thereto, the said means comprising an open-ended tube located outside of said crank case, and being' in communication with theinterior thereof by means of a passageway extending from the upper end of the said tube, a check valve for clos- IOO IIO

ing the said passageway, the said valve being my invention I have hereunto signed my name adapted to be opened by thepressure of gases this 26th day of January, A. D. 1904:.

within the said cra-nk case, a funnel the upper 1 i end of which is located beneath the lower end LOUlb b' (/LARKPJ' of the said tube, and the lower end of which 1n presence el?! funnel projects into the crank case. THos. K. LANCASTER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing' as LAURA KLEINFELDER. 

